The Humble Frittata

Last weekend my husband and I were invited to camp with my sister, her college roommates and their families. This annual camping trip is a tradition, and I knew that a major aspect of these trips is food -- each couple/family is assigned one meal, and the unspoken rules were that thought should go into that meal. There were still murmurs about how last year Robin shirked her duties by presenting a cereal buffet for breakfast one morning!

Naturally, I was concerned. If I failed with our assigned meal -- breakfast it turns out -- would we ever be invited back? Finally, I decided on frittatas. I could make them ahead of time and heat them up before serving them.

I've always loved frittatas. They're the perfect I'm-out-of-food-what-should-I-have-for-dinner dish. As long as you have eggs and herbs, you can't go wrong. You're luckier still if you have some parmesan to mix in with the eggs and a couple bowls of greens to serve on the side.

Because I was feeling ambitious, I went to the store and bought pretty much everything I could get my hands on, so that there were basil, mozzarella and sun-dried tomato frittatas, chicken sausage and mushroom frittatas ... you get the idea. In the end I spent 6 hours in my kitchen on Friday making 8 frittatas (4 kinds, 2 each).

I have to say it -- the frittatas were a hit. Even with the kids, who we brought bagels for, just in case. They really are a perfect meal, in and of themselves. Simple, hearty, fresh and complete. As for my favorite, I loved the potato, caramelized shallot and white bean frittata, which I think is best served cold. Following is my recipe for this rustic dish.

Potato, Caramelized Onion & White Bean Frittata

Makes 2 frittatas

Ingredients:

• 12 eggs
• 1 lb. baby potatoes
• 2 shallots (thinly sliced into half rounds)
• 1 can white beans (I like S&W brand)
• 1-2 Tbsp Rosemary (minced)
• A Tbsp or 2 of parmesan to taste
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 1-2 tsp olive oil
• Olive oil spray

Directions:

1) Boil the potatoes, making sure they remain firm
2) Meanwhile, caramelize the shallots in olive oil over medium-low heat
3) Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix eggs, rosemary, parmesan and salt and pepper
4) Once potatoes have cooled, slice into coins (no need to peel)
5) Add potatoes, shallots and white beans to eggs
6) Lightly spray 10-inch frying pan (I like my Analon brand because it's heavy and nonstick) and heat it on the burner on medium-low heat.
7) Add half the egg mixture and cover
8) Let the eggs cook until they are brown and crispy on the bottom and the center is nearly done (this can take around 15 minutes or more)
9) Flip the frittata over and get it brown and crispy on the opposite side
10) Ease the frittata onto a plate and repeat with the rest of the egg mixture

The frittatas will keep for a few days in the fridge and definitely get better as the days pass.

Upcoming events for The Map of Lost Memories

With the August 21 publication date of The Map of Lost Memories nearing, my publicist is setting up lots of great events. Following are the first confirmed readings, appearances, etc. I will post more details as soon as I have them.


September 9, 2012
Book launch at Curve Line Space - details to come
Los Angeles (Eagle Rock), CA

October 7, 2012 - 2 pm
Reading at Elliott Bay Book Company
Seattle, WA

October 13-14, 2012
WordStock - event details to come
Portland, OR

The Map of Lost Memories - Coming Soon!

My novel, The Map of Lost Memories, will be published in August of 2012. To learn more about it, go to my website or the book's page on the Random House website.

Advance praise for

The Map of Lost Memories:

“In The Map of Lost Memories, Kim Fay draws us into a universe as exotic, intense and historically-detailed as the ancient artifacts her unforgettable heroine seeks. It's a deliciously unexpected journey: Indiana Jones meets Somerset Maugham meets Marguerite Duras; all culminating in a glorious traipse through a forgotten Asian world. This novel will stay with me for a long, long time.” – Jennifer Cody Epstein, author of The Painter from Shanghai

"The Map of Lost Memories is the best book I have read this year. Exotic, thrilling, and brimming with fascinating historic detail, it had me hooked from page one and sent me to a world I knew existed, but never really understood, never really felt, until now. Kim Fay is a wonderful storyteller who truly masters the art of crafting a riveting story with heart and elegance. The result is utterly mesmerizing." – Anne Fortier, New York Times-bestselling author of Juliet

“Kim Fay writes with such mesmerizing authority that it's hard to believe The Map of Lost Memories is her first novel. Rarely do we find a book that combines gripping adventure with exquisitely crafted prose, but Fay's novel does just that, bringing together the beauty and complexity of Marguerite Duras' The Lover with the thrilling breathlessness of Indiana Jones. The result is breathtaking.” – Dana Sachs, author of If You Lived Here and The House on Dream Street

"Kim Fay's engaging debut novel, The Map of Lost Memories, not only weaves together a smart, compelling story of a quest for scrolls believed to contain the lost history of Cambodia's ancient Khmer empire, but also gives us a glimpse into 1920's China and Indochina during the time of transition from colonialism to the beginnings of communism. With deftness and clarity, Fay brings her world to life and gives us a captivating read.” – Gail Tsukiyama, author of A Hundred Flowers

“Kim Fay breathes new and original life into the Westerner-in-Asia novel with The Map of Lost Memories, going beyond the intrigues of 1925 Shanghai to the remote reaches of the Cambodian jungle. An enchanting, absorbing first novel, all the more remarkable for its effortless portrayal of a bygone world, now nearly forgotten.” – Nicole Mones, author of Lost in Translation and The Last Chinese Chef